Hot Chops and Cold Truth

As they trudged along the dirt road's shoulder, Jeb Compton looked down at his Bluetick Coonhound. “Homer, I've had better days. First, my old John Deere tractor won't start, and it takes two hours of fussing and cussing to get her up and running. Next, I find that new herbicide I sprayed on them soybeans awhile back ain't living up to its billing. Then, I have to take you to the vet for what turns out to be a case of garbage gut. And finally, we get run off the road and stuck in the ditch 'cause that Jenkins kid is driving too fast and slewing around."

Jeb took off his cap and ran a hand through his hair. "And did that no-account peckerhead stop to help us out? No. He just waved and kept on going. Now we're having to trek over to Luke Taylor's to ask him to pull us out. That Jenkins kid is trouble, Homer, and I'm of a mind to go have a talk with his folks.”

...

Eyes wild and cheeks flushed, Ma stormed out of the kitchen waving a potato masher like a band director's baton. Flecks of potatoes flew in all directions. “Where is that boy? Them pork chops is getting cold. If he don't get here soon, I'm going to jerk him up and twist a knot in his tail.”

Seated at the faded yellow formica table with her family, Karen Jenkins' green eyes squinted behind her glasses, and her mouth pulled down in a frown. Yeah, right, she thought. Like anything will happen to the golden boy.

Her father, seated in his red long johns, spoke up. “Now Mollie, don't be getting in a lather. I'm sure he'll be here soon.”

Granny, sitting in her gingham housedress, nodded. She might be agreeing with Pa, Karen thought, or she might be keeping time to a tune in her head that only she could hear. With Granny, you never knew. At least she's wearing something. She'd been known to show up for dinner in the altogether with resulting loss of appetite for anyone present.

Ma snorted. “Well, he'd better be here soon if he knows what's good for him.”

Bull-pucky, Karen thought. Most likely he's out raising Billy Ned somewhere and forgot all about the time. When he does drag in, he'll have some lame excuse ready, and it will do the trick. Just like always. To her mind, her brother, Eddie, exhibited all the signs of an unrepentant reprobate.

Reprobate. Karen first heard that word when Reverend Andrews preached his sermon a few Sundays back. She looked it up in the big dictionary in the school library. It gave two meanings: (1) a rascal or scalawag in a humorous or affectionate sense; (2) someone predestined to damnation. Bingo! she'd thought. That second one fit Eddie to a T.

Sighing, she glanced down at her chipped plate and mismatched silverware, then looked hopefully at her mother. “Ma, why don't you just serve it now? We're hungry. If it's cold when he gets here, he's got no one to blame but himself.”

Her mother stared at Karen like she'd been slapped. Her cheeks took on a deep shade of red, and her eyes narrowed. What are you saying, child? We eat as a family unless there ain't no way around it.”

Pa piped up. “That's right, Karen. You know the rules. Ain't that right, Mollie?”

Her mother's attention swiveled to him. “Never you mind, Earl. I don't need me no back-up.” Her eyes shifted to his attire. “And why are you come to the table wearing them long johns? That ain't fitting, and you know it.”

Earl flinched and looked down. “Now, Mollie. You know I got to get up early, and I'll be heading to bed soon enough. I just thought this would save me a little time.”

“I don't want to hear it, Earl. You go put something over that right now.”

Pa looked at Karen for support, but she just shrugged. Granny seemed elsewhere, so no help came from that quarter. Defeated, Pa rose from the table and went to change.

The noise of gravel crunching in the driveway, and the revving of a 307 Chevy engine signaled Eddie's arrival. If that didn't provide enough clues, Karen thought, the radio blasting “Coal Miner's Daughter” clinched it.

The racket stopped, and the car door slammed. Through the window, Karen saw her sixteen-year-old brother bound up the steps, throw open the kitchen door, and saunter into the room. “Hi, Ma. Pa. Granny. Dinner ready?”

He looked over at Karen. “Hey, four-eyes.”

Karen glared at him while Ma unleashed her head of steam. “Don't you 'Hi, Ma.' me. Dinner's been ready for the better part of an hour. Where the dickens have you been?”

Eddie's handsome face turned sorrowful. He ran a hand through his thick, blond hair and cast his blue eyes toward the floor. “I'm plumb sorry, Ma. It couldn't be helped. Old man Compton high-centered his truck back apiece, and I just had to stop and help him get it out. I told him I needed to hurry home because a dinner made by the best danged cook in Garland County waited for me. That blamed hound of his growled at me, too. I don't know what its problem is.

Anyway, I'm real sorry.” Eddie looked up at Ma and hit her with his best smile.

Ma melted like butter on a hot griddle. “Well, helping out a neighbor in need is the Christian thing to do, like it say in Luke. I reckon I can't be upset with you for being a good Samaritan. Come here and give your mother a hug, then we'll eat. Karen, make sure Granny got her teeth in.”

Eddie looked over at Karen and tossed her a wink. While she scowled and ground her teeth, he hugged Ma and told her how nice she looked. Ma beamed and headed back in the kitchen. Karen looked daggers at Eddie, but she had to admit he really knew how to butter a biscuit.

Pa rejoined them, his long johns covered, and Ma returned with the pork chops, mashed potatoes, and mustard greens. During the meal, various conversations wove their way around the chewing and swallowing.

Pa talked baseball and how Detroit would be a sure winner in the AL pennant race. Eddie scoffed and said they didn't stand a chance against Oakland. Ma asked Eddie how the chops were. Eddie said they were the best he'd ever tasted. Granny's top denture fell out on her plate. Karen cleaned it off, got some Fixodent to spread on it, and helped her put it back in. Eddie looked disgusted. Karen mentioned getting an A on her science project. Ma said, “That's nice. Don't forget to wash up the dishes before you go to bed.” Eddie smirked. Ma said she wasn't much for politics, but she sure thought it good that a fine Republican like Nixon won out over that crybaby McGovern. Eddie agreed that Nixon definitely deserved it.

As the meal wound down, Pa looked at Eddie. “Son, I wonder if you'd mind helping me with the chores tomorrow evening. My lumbago has flared up on me something fierce.”

Eddie looked regretful. “Gee, Pa, I wish I could, but football practice is in two-a-days now, and it's brutal. After that, I'm afraid I won't have nothing left.”

Pa opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Ma jumped in. “That's right, Earl. You know how important Eddie is to the team. If they're going to win the conference title this year, he's got take care of himself.”

“Well, I think -”

Ma cut him off. “If you got to have some help with them chores, you can get Karen to do it.”

Karen's face flushed a furious shade of red. She jumped up and slammed her palms on the table. “That is it! I've had all I can take. I'm sick to death of everyone catering to Eddie, treating him like some kind of royalty instead of what he is: a spoiled, lazy, obnoxious low-life.”

In the stunned silence, she continued. “He doesn't do anything around here. He comes and goes when he wants, lies, makes lousy grades, ditches class, and can't hold down even a part-time job. And what happens? You spend money you can ill afford to get him a car and gas money so he can drive around and act a hot shot.”

She looked straight at her mother. “And all he has to do to keep getting away with it is suck up to you.”

She turned to her father. “And Pa, you don't do anything about it because you're too buffaloed by Ma.”

Her mother's mouth gaped like a catfish flopping on the bank, and her father's head hung down. Eddie's face showed equal parts of alarm and anger.

Karen turned to her grandma. “Granny, I love you, and I'm sorry you had to hear this, but it's been a long time coming.”

Granny smiled at her and mumbled something. Karen leaned closer and heard, “Good on you, girl.”

Karen hugged her, stood back up, and looked around the table. “I'm turning eighteen soon. I'll be able to get a full-time job and support myself. Maybe even go to the junior college if I can get a scholarship or student loan. And that's what I aim to do. Till then, I'm getting my clothes and going to stay with my friend Ellen and her family. They were nice enough to accept me when I asked. I knew this day was coming. I just didn't know when.”

Karen fought back the tears she knew would flow later. “Ma. Pa. I love you, and I'm thankful for my raising, but I can't go on like this. I won't. I hope some things change around here, but that's not up to me.”

Karen walked to her room and took a packed suitcase from her closet. As she left the house, and walked down the lane to the road, she met Jeb Compton driving up in his truck.

Jeb pulled the truck to a halt and rolled down the window. “Hello, Miss Karen. Looks like you be heading somewhere.”

“Hello, Mr. Compton. Yes, I'm going to the Randolph's house.”

Jeb mulled that over, noting the suitcase Karen clenched in her hands. “Far piece to be walking. No one to give you a ride?”

Karen teared up. “No, sir. I didn't ask.”

“Well, stow your case behind the seat and hop in front. Just shove Homer over some. As soon as I have a few words with your folks, I'll take you there.”

She wasn't sure if Mr. Compton could make anything better. If she was being honest, she hoped her family would wrap her up in their arms and welcome her back. “I said a few things my folks didn't want to hear when I left, Mr. Compton,” she said.

“Well,” Jeb said, “we all say things.”

Karen climbed in the cab of the truck, and Homer plopped his big head on her knee. She closed her eyes, letting the sound of the engine calm her nerves.

When they pulled up to the house, Karen looked it over. She knew every piece of wood that made it, every drop of paint. But now, it looked like someone else's house, a place like a dozen others in this town.

Jeb killed the engine, got down, and walked up to knock on the door. Karen caught herself holding her breath. It seemed like to her, whatever happened next, her whole life would change. She wasn't sure if she was ready.